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California Attorney General Kamala Harris made a stop in Clovis Thursday afternoon to discuss issues facing law enforcement and to recognize officers throughout the Central Valley who’ve displayed great courage while on duty.

Harris, a candidate seeking Barbara Boxer’s seat in the U.S. Senate, recognized nine law enforcement officials from California’s Zone Five — which encompasses Tulare, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, and Merced counties — during a Zone Meeting that included a Peace Officer Award presentation.

In a time when ties between law enforcement and the public are strained across the nation, Harris said it’s important to acknowledge the great acts routinely being performed by officers that ensure safety throughout communities.

“[The purpose of this event is] to honor the heroes who serve us in law enforcement — to recognize and thank their families, and honor the community members who step up and collaborate with law enforcement to do what we all want, which is to be as smart and effective as we can and have safe communities,” she said.

Among those recognized during the award presentation were California Highway Patrol Officers Aaron Keller, 40, and Cynthia White, 39.

In April, the officers approached a woman who was threatening to jump off the bridge rail of Carpenter Road Bridge, in Modesto, and into the river below — a 60-foot drop.

Officer White, of Oakdale, spoke to the woman in a calm voice, while Officer Keller, of Modesto, approached her from the opposite direction, Harris told the audience.

The woman spotted Officer Keller, and he then began talking to her in a reassuring manner.

Together, the officers were able to grab the woman and pull her back over the bridge rail and on to solid ground.

Keller and White said in the 11 years they’ve been working together, the incident they were recognized for is the sort of event that they and other officers encounter nearly every day.

“It’s nice to be recognized,” Officer Keller said. “In all honesty, there are probably 30-40-50 other officers in the Modesto office that could have easily been honored. It’s kind of like we’re here on behalf of all of them and all the incidences. Even though it’s one incident we’re here for, there’s a lot of things that happen on a daily basis, and not just in our community, but all throughout California.”

Others recognized included officers with the Sanger, Fresno and Arvin police departments for acts that vary from building trust between communities and law enforcement, to subduing a knife-wielding suspect who attempted to use his mother as a human shield against officers.

Since being sworn in as attorney general, Harris said she’s regularly met with law enforcement agencies across the state.

She’s held 19 Zone Meetings with the state’s eight zones as attorney general, with her first being held in Tulare County, she said.

“Candidate or not, that’s why I did my first Zone Meeting right when I first took office,” she said. “I wasn’t a candidate. I was at the beginning of a four-year term. But I came here because, I agree, I think sometimes this region is overlooked and it shouldn’t be.”